Principles of Mission Command Applied to Civil Military Relationships

This monograph examines the six principles of mission command that have the potential to influence the relationship between civilian and military stakeholders. To make informed decisions that affect national security, the President and his civilian staff should apply philosophy and the principles of mission command to have shared understanding and trust with the military. The military, in turn, needs to reciprocate this effort to create cohesion which builds effective civil-military teams. Civil-military relations theory explores and explains why tension exists, but does not fill the gap to recommend solutions that will mitigate discord and improve the working relationships between United States military and civilian leaders. The purpose of applying the principles of mission command and the mission command philosophy to civil military relationships is to demonstrate their universal relevance and significance in todays operational environment.